I'm happy to say I just received an offer letter for a startup I applied for! I was curious to hear how others have negotiated for a higher salary and/or equity?
ChiefGreef45
Salary Negotiation
5
This is a super vague post.
-What is the role?
-What size is the company?
-Did you ask for something and they offered less?
-Do you simply want to ask for more because you feel like you should?
-Where are you located?
-What's the going rate for that role in your market?
-Equity is a bullshit component of an offer that is a major what-if in the future...unless it's guaranteed equity (which almost never happens unless you're a co-founder). Why do you want more?
-What is the role?
-What size is the company?
-Did you ask for something and they offered less?
-Do you simply want to ask for more because you feel like you should?
-Where are you located?
-What's the going rate for that role in your market?
-Equity is a bullshit component of an offer that is a major what-if in the future...unless it's guaranteed equity (which almost never happens unless you're a co-founder). Why do you want more?
- Account Executive (1st salesperson for the company)
- Less than 10 people
- I did not ask for anything yet
- Austin, TX
- I'm getting married in a few weeks, and more will help us get on track to begin the process of buying a house for our eventual family.
- Less than 10 people
- I did not ask for anything yet
- Austin, TX
- I'm getting married in a few weeks, and more will help us get on track to begin the process of buying a house for our eventual family.
I was the 5th employee and first sales hire at a previous company, so I have first-hand experience in your situation! Last question, are they funded?
Yes they are funded
Ok cool. So I, like you, had the offer in hand, but the number was too low for the job I would be doing. I did some research on what VPs of Sales were fetching in my market and at that stage (asked a VC friend, too), and made a counter. We met at 90% of my ask and the rest was history.
No ink on the paper means you have time to negotiate, but do it with facts to back up your number.
No ink on the paper means you have time to negotiate, but do it with facts to back up your number.
Sounds like there was been a big jump from what was originally offered.
CEO was doing what he does best: acquiring talent at the lowest burn rate. He and I agreed that I was the solution to their growth problem, and without me, they'd struggle to grow with the CEO doing all of the sales work. Without me, they'd be dead sooner rather than later, so I used that with my industry data and got what I wanted.
That makes sense. I'm interested to hear how you shaped the conversation around the VP of Sales market data from just an AE.
I was being hired as "Sales" and I negotiated both my title and salary based on the scope of the job. It came with added responsibility and board scrutiny, but it was worth it in my career growth. I had previously been a Director, so it was the jump I wanted.
If you already have an offer letter you may have missed the chance to negotiate.
Would you feel comfortable naming the startup? Interviewing with another startup in ATX...I think we might be talking about the same company haha.
Sorry I'm based out of ATX, but the company is based in NY. Apologies for the confusion
Ahh no worries.
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